by Walt Henrichsen | Feb 29, 2016 | Articles, Mentors Corner
“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority.” 1Timothy 2:1-2 The New Testament authors agree that Christ’s followers must submit to authority.1 In all of the New Testament, I find no reference to resisting secular authority unless the government compels the believer to break God’s commandments; in all other areas he must submit. God controls the activities of all in authority: “…the Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”2 “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: He turneth it whithersoever He will.”3 The admonition contained in this verse is especially applicable for those who disapprove of the authority placed over them. You pray for them; you do not resist them. This does not mean that you affirm wrong with your silence. Rather, you call to their attention that they are wrong if and when they give you opportunity. However, in such encounters, you must be ready to defend before God that you confront them because you have their best interest in mind, and not because you are defending yourself. 1 Cf., e.g., Romans 13:1-5 and 1Peter 2:13-14, 17 2 Hebrews 13:6 3 Proverbs 21:1 for more articles by this...
by Craig McAndrews | Feb 22, 2016 | Articles, Testimonies
I travelled to Haiti with a church group to serve with a team at a pastor’s leadership conference. This was the first of its kind for this group of Haitian pastors and the team who coordinated the event. There was a great turnout, and God was really working on the group who participated. At the same time, He was really working on me. For starters, I had to teach through a translator which is pretty challenging. I knew the process would stretch me, but I had no idea how uncomfortable it would make me. I remember the first time during the talk when I said something to the translator and they simply looked at me with a puzzled face. Turns out what I was trying to say couldn’t even be translated in the local language. There were moments when I had no idea what to say next, but each time God provided words and I managed to get through the sessions without any major problems. God reminded me that day how big of a God He is. The depressing part of the lesson was that God showed me how small I make Him. When I pray my prayers and look at Him through the lens of my own life, I realized I have a tendency to put Him in a tiny little box and lean on Him based on my circumstances. The idea of His bigness escaped me. However, the Haitian people sparked a new perspective in me through the simple act of prayer. I distinctly remember a time when the entire group was in prayer after one of the messages. During the prayer, I could hear the low murmur of the Haitian people...
by Ed Allen | Feb 15, 2016 | Articles, What Do You Think?
Luke 21: 34 “Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day will not come on you suddenly like a trap; 35 for it will come upon all those who dwell on the face of all the earth. 36 “But keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” (Observation) The day of the return of the “Son of Man” will come upon the earth “suddenly like a trap.” Jesus warns against allowing one’s heart to be “weighted down” by the world. He also advises prayer for strength to escape the calamities preceding his return and “to stand before the Son of Man.” (Interpretation) Since all will stand for judgment when Jesus returns and since the day of His return has not been revealed to us we are to be prepared as if it will be today. It appears that whatever the distractions and temptations and worries, even calamities that we now face are, it will become worse as the day of His return approaches. Therefore we are to resist the things that will contribute to “dissipation.” As things get worse, we will surely appreciate His good advice to pray “for strength.” There will be no exception, all “men will have to give account on the day of judgment.” (Cross-reference) Romans 14:10 …For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. 11 For it is written “AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL GIVE PRAISE...
by Micah Olson | Feb 8, 2016 | Articles, Mentors Corner
Balaam is an interesting character in the Bible. The biblical narrative about him is mostly confined to 3 chapters – Numbers 22-24 – but his story clearly resonates with numerous authors of the bible. He is referred to in Deuteronomy, Joshua, Nehemiah, Micah, 2 Peter, Jude, and Revelation. I will summarize the story of Balaam, but I mostly want to focus on the New Testament references to Balaam which highlight the importance of Balaam’s story to us today. The New Testament warnings regarding Balaam focus on two things: 1) he loved the wages of unrighteousness, 2) he tempted Israel to commit idolatry and sexual immorality It is the warning regarding sexual immorality that I want to focus this article. God promises to Abraham in the book of Genesis that He will give Abraham’s future descendants the land of Canaan “for an everlasting possession.” From Exodus through the end of Deuteronomy, Scripture describes Israel’s journey from Egypt to the plains east of the Jordan River, where in the book of Joshua the Israelites will launch their attack and eventually conquer the Promised Land. After 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, the new generation of Israelites were finally on the cusp of entering the Promised Land. In Numbers 22, Balak, the king of Moab, gets nervous that the nation of Israel is making their camp in his land. He becomes fearful of Israel’s military might and hires a famous diviner from Mesopotamia named Balaam. Balak’s goal is that Balaam would curse Israel, which would then allow the Moabites to destroy them. If all we knew about Balaam was what we read in Numbers 22-24, we might be inclined to think that he was a righteous man....
by Walt Henrichsen | Feb 1, 2016 | Articles, Mentors Corner
“The LORD endowed Solomon with wisdom and discernment in great measure, with understanding as vast as the sands on the seashore.” 1Kings 4:29 This is one of the most terrifying aspects of walking with Christ. All of your gifts, abilities, assets, and relationships are blessings from God that have the potential of inflicting great harm. To the degree that you are so blessed, at least three things can happen to you, and two of them are bad. The benefit of being richly endowed, as was Solomon, is your ability to glorify God during the years that He gives you. The two dangers are, you can misunderstand what God has given you, and thus misuse your gifts. Evidently Solomon saw himself as someone special in the sight of God, and presumed upon his relationship with Him by ignoring His commandments. You find the second danger in the words of Jesus, “And to whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required: and to whom they commit much, of him will they ask the more.”1 The misuse of God’s blessings can inflict great harm on you, if you are not careful. Rejoice in the blessings God has given, but be very careful in how you steward them. 1 Luke 12:48 for more articles by this...
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